Dispenser for marbles and the like



Dec. 19, 1944. J, F. BARNES v DISPENSER FOR MARBLES AND THE LIKE Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE DISPENSER FOR MARBLES AND THE LIKE James F. Barnes, Chicago, Ill., assigner to James F. Barnes, as'trustee Application May 13, 1942, Serial No. 442,858

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispenser for marbles and the like, and more particularly to a device for receiving marbles within a chamber and for discharging the marbles successively upon manual operation of the device.

An object of the invention is to provide a container for marbles from which the marbles may be successively removed upon manual operation. Another object is to provide a dispenser wherein marbles and the like may be withdrawn from the device by gravity operation. Still another object is to provide a container which is closed to securely retain the marbles therein, except when the marbles are removed through the dispensing member of the container, and yet at the same time to provide means for inserting additional marbles into the container when desired.

Another object of the invention is1 to provide a dispensing member which will close the chamber with which the marbles are received in the device, and which is adapted at the same time to operate to successively remove marbles from the chamber. Yet another object is to provide in a dispenser for marbles and the like, a channel for delivering the marbles to a recess or pocket in the dispensing member, the member having a partition for closing the channel when the member is not in position to receive marbles from the chamber. A further object is to provide in a dispenser for marbles and the like, a pair of chambers for receiving and dispensing marbles of different sizes.

Other features and advantages will appear from the following speciiication and drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly broken away, of the same device; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device with the rear cover removed; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, showing the dispensing member in elevated position.

4In the embodiment of the device described herein, a casing IIJ of glass, plastic, or other suitable material is provided with an open side and receives as a closure member for that side a sheet I I of at material, such as cardboard or the like. The casing is provided with a pair of anges I2 and I3 extending rearwardly along the sides thereof, the anges preferably being aperturcd `at I4 to provide an opening through which a provided with upper and lower ilanges I6 and II extending rearwardly of the main body of the casing and providing with the side ilanges a base at the rear of the casing.

The upper surface of the casing I0 is provided with a pair of openings I8 and I9 which are preferably disposed in horizontal grooves 20 and 2I in the casing. The openings are preferably of different sizes. Each of the openings is adapted to receive andprovide a tight passage for a particular size of marble which is to be used in the dispenser.`

Within the casing I0, and referring particularly to Fig. 3, is a, vertical partition 22 which separates the inside of the casing into a pair of chambers 23 and 24. Transverse partitions 25 and 26 extend outwardly in opposite directions from the central partition 22 toward the sides' of the casing. Preferably, the transverse partitions 25 and 26 are centrally disposed vertically within the casing. At the ends of the transverse partitions 25 and 2S are downwardlyextending vertical partitions 2'Iv and 28 which provide, with the transverse partitions 25 and 26, the inner walls of the chambers 23 and 24. The vertical `partitions 2l and 28 also provide with the side walls 29 and 30 of the casing I0, a pair of channels 3| and 32 within which the marbles 33 and 34 are received from the chambers 23 and 24 respectively.

The casing I0 is provided with a pair of openings 35 and 36 in the lower portion or bottom wall thereof. Within these openings are received respectively, a pair of dispensing members 3l and 38. The member -31 is equipped with a lateral recess 39 extending into the member from one side thereof to form a pocket for receiving marbles. ,As seen particularly in Fig. 5, the recess 39 may be of a size slightly larger than that of the marble 33 which is to be received therein. The member 31 is vertically slidable within the opening 35 in the bottom wall of the casing and is movable between a position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, wherein the recess is disposed outside the casing, and a posi tion shown in Fig. 5, wherein the recess is within the casing and communicates with the channel 3l so that marbles may pass from the channel 3l into the recess 39 in the member y3l. The

`member 3l is preferably equipped with a lug 4I) which is adapted to engage a stop lug 4I on the partition 21 to limit the downward movement of the member 31.

`4The dispensing member 3l is preferably equipped with anv arcuate lower front surface 42 and with a projection 43 therebelow, so as to be readily engaged by the ngers of the operator of the dispensing device and readily moved upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5. When the dispensing member 31 reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, the marble 33 will pass into the recess, and upon the release of the member 31 by the operator of the device, the member 31 will fall, by reason of the force of` gravity, to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the marble 33 will be discharged from the recess 39 in the dispensing member 31.

The lower wall of the casing is preferably equipped with an inclined portion 44 immediately adjacent the dispensing member 31, the portion being inclined downwardly 'toward the member 31 so that marbles resting on the bottom wall of the casing will pass along this bottom wall into the recess 39 in the member 31.` The dispensing member is preferably equipped with a pair of laterally-spaced vertical partitions 45 and 46 which engage respectively the central partition 22 and the vertical partition 21 to provide a guide for the vertical reciprocation of the dispensing member. provides a closure for the channel 3| when the dispensing member 31 is in the lower position shown in Fig. 3. The dispensing member may also be equipped with a vertical partition 41 connecting the side partitions 45 and 46 and engaging the rear Wall of the casing l0.

The dispensing member 38 is of a construction corresponding to that of the dispensing member 3l, and the Vertical partition 2B is provided with a lug 48 corresponding to the lug 4| of the partition 21. Similarly, the construction of the portion i9 of the bottom Wall adjacent the dispensing member 38 is similar to that of the portion lil adjacent the dispensing member 31'.

In operation, the marbles are placed in the casing Ill by inserting them through the openings l and I9 in the upper surface of the casing. Preferably, the marbles are of a size such that they are tightly received within these openings and pass through them only under slight pressure. In this way, marbles which pass through the openings I8 and |9 into the chambers 23 and 24 respectively may notbe removed from the casing by inverting the casing, but must be removed through the dispensing members 31 and 38.

The marbles 33 are received within the chamber 23 and pass into the channel 3| where they are successively received. When the dispensing member 31 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the partition 45 closes the channel 3| vand prevents the removal of the marbles 33 from the channel 3| or chamber 23. The stop lug 4| limits the downward movement of the dispensing member 31 to hold it in the position vshown in Fig. 3.

When the dispensing member 31 is lifted by the operator to the elevated position shown in Fig. 5, the recess 39 is brought into alignment with the lower end of the channel 3|, and the foremost marble 33 resting on the inclined portion i4 of the lower wall of the casing advances into the recess 39, as seen in Fig. 5. When the marble 33 is received within the recess 39, the

dispensing member 31 may be released and willl fall by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 3, the marble in the recess 39 being -discharged from the dispensing member 31.

As the dispensing member passes downwardly,

carrying within the recess 39 the foremost marr The partition 45 also jg ble 33, the partition 45 serves to close the channel 3| and prevent additional marbles from passing forwardly toward the dispensing member 31.

Similarly, in the chamber 24, the marbles 34 pass in single order into the channel 32 and thence, upon operation of the dispensing member 38, are discharged from the device.

In use, the device may be carried on a belt which extends about the body of the user. The belt may be passed through the openings It in the flanges |2 and I3 and may then extend about the body of the user and be secured in this position.

Although the device has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it will be understood that this is for the purpose of illustration only, and changes and modications may readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A dispenser for marbles and the like, comprising a casing'providing a chamber for receiving a plurality of marbles, said casing being provided with an opening in the lower portion thereof, a member slidably received for vertical movement within said opening and equipped with a recess for receiving' marbles, the member being movable between a position wherein the recess is within the chamber and may receive marbles therefrom and a position wherein the recess is outside the chamber and the marbles therein may be discharged, and a wall in the lower portion of the chamber for supporting said marbles, said wall being inclined downwardly from a vertical side wall of the chamber toward the recess whereprising a casing providing a chamber for receiving a plurality of marbles, said casing being provided with an opening in the lower portion thereof., a member received Within said opening for vertical slidable movement therein and equipped with a recess for receiving marbles from the chamber, said member being movable in the opening between a position wherein the recess is Within the chamber and may receive marbles therefrom and a position wherein the recess is outside the chamber and the marbles therein may be discharged, and a wall in the lower portion lof said chamber for supporting said marbles, said wall being inclined downwardly from a vertical side Wall of the chamber toward the recess whereby, when the member is in said first-mentioned position, marbles will pass along the wall Yfrom the chamber into the recess, said member being provided with a transverse wall extending across the opening to prevent the escape of marbles therethrough when the member is in the firstmentioned position and with a vertical wall for preventing the passage of marbles beyond the vinsaid bottom wall opening for vertical movement a position wherein the recess is outside the casing and the marbles may be discharged therefrom, partition means within said casing providing with a vertical wall of the chamber a channel for the passage of marbles from the chamber to the recess when the member is in said rst-mentioned position, the Width of the channel being only slightly greater than the width of the marbles whereby the marbles pass successively therethrough said member providing a closure for the opening in the casing when the recess is within the casing, and a wall carried by said member for closing said channel when the recess is outside the casing.

4. A dispenser` for marbles and the like, comprising a casing providing a chamber for receiving a plurality of marbles, said casing being provided with an opening in the bottom wall thereof, a member slidably received within said opening for vertical movement therein, said member being equipped with a lateral recess for receiving marbles therein and being movable in the opening between a position wherein the recess is inside the marbles whereby the marbles pass successively therethrough said member providing a closure for the opening in the casingand being equipped with a vertical wall extending upwardly from the retherein, said member being equipped with a lateral recess for receiving a single marble therein and being movable in the opening between a position wherein the recess is inside the casing and is adapted to receive a marble from the chamber and a position wherein the recess is outside the casing and is adapted to discharge the marble, partition means within said casing providing with a vertical wall of the chamber a channel for the passage of marbles one by one from the chamber to the recess when the member is in said rstmentioned position, and an inclined upper surface of said bottom wall for supporting marbles, said wall being inclined downwardly from a vertic'al side wall of the chamber toward said recess whereby, when the member is in said first-mentioned position, the marbles will pass* along the wall from the chamber into the recess, said member providing a closure for the bottom opening in the casing when the recess is within the casing and being equipped with a vertical wall extending upwardly from the recess along the side of the member adjacent the channel for closing said channel when the recess is outside the casing.

6. A dispenser for marbles and the like, comprising a casing providing a pair of separated chambers, each of said'chambers being adapted to receive a plurality of marbles therein, a pair of openings of different sizes in the upper portion of the casing communicating respectively with said chambers, each of said openings being adapted to permit tight passage therethrough of a marble of predetermined size, a pair of openings in the lower portion of the casing, a member slidably received within each of said last-mentioned openings and equipped with a recess for receiving marbles of predetermined size, each of said members being movable between a position wherein the recess is within the casing and may receive a marble from one of the chambers and a position wherein the recess is outside the casing and the marble therein may be discharged, each recess being adapted to receive amarble from a different chamber and being of a size correspondlng to the opening in the upper portion of the casing communicating with such chamber.

JAMES F. BARNES. 

